Red Sky in Mourning : A True Story of Love, Loss, and Survival at Sea

When
Tami Oldham and her fiancé Richard Sharp agreed to deliver the
state-of-the-art sailing yacht Hazana, a Trintella 44, from Tahiti to San Diego, they already had
an accumulated 50,000 miles between the two of them. Not bad considering
that Tami was only 24-years-old and Richard was 34. If they were reluctant
at all to deliver the boat, it was because they had only been away from
San Diego for six months; Tami had hoped that they could have completed
more of their own around-the-world sailing adventure, before returning
home. However, the prospect of earning $10,000 was too attractive. They
rationalized that it would only take four months to deliver the yacht
and the money would go a long way to funding their own adventure. Young
and in love, they set off in late September on a "Perfect day. Tetiaroa abeam. Full moon. Making 5 kts. In calm sea under all plain sail."

When Hurricane
Raymond looked like it was headed west, although Richard made a note to
"watch this one," they initially believed they were safe since
they were located north of the storm. Nevertheless, they did everything
in their power to try to get as much distance between them and Raymond.
Alas, the storm changed directions and after several different tactics,
they found themselves smack in the middle of the 140-knot winds. Richard
had control of the helm and probably to protect her, told Tami to go below
and let him know when she saw a rise in the barometric
pressure. Unable to do anything else, she collapses into the sea hammock
and no sooner does she close her eyes, the boat drops into a deep trough,
she hears Richard scream and she "sails into oblivion." When
she wakes, she's pinned down with contents of the boat's interior and
covered with blood. In her initial disorientation, she's not even sure
which boat she is on. Then she searches for Richard and comes to the awful
realization that he's been swept overboard. She is not only alone in the
vast sea, but much of the food is ruined by salt water, the mast is destroyed,
the engine inoperable, the radio dead, and the help beacon is dysfunctional.
Her survival at this point is compounded by guilt and heartache, but with
the help of an inner voice, she's able to pull herself together.

Tami makes
it back to land on her own after more than a month stranded at sea. It
is difficult to know how Tami would have faired if she had been a less
experienced sailor. Certainly her knowledge on how to use the sextant for line of position plotting helped save her as much as anything. At
least she was able to steer towards Hawaii, a small target in a large
ocean. Obviously this boat also helped in her survival, since it was seaworthy
enough that it withstood pitch-poling without sinking - but you can imagine
the time she had wrapped in the hammock knocking about the inside of the
boat. It is amazing she wasn't hurt more. Tami's inner voice kept reminding
her that she was meant to live, and it does seem true with these unlikely
odds.

Mixed in
with the actual survival story are memories of her adventures from before
and especially after meeting Richard. Although the story is compelling
--- I read it in practically one sitting --- the writing style is a little
annoying in its over simplicity, but I suppose it is not all that unusual
for this type of book. Whether Tami and Richard really did speak the way
they do in this memoir, I could have done without all the extra calling
each other "love."

"It's
all the flowers. The frangipani and gardenia thrive in humidity. They're
the flowers of love, you know. I'll get you a lei, love."

"I'd
love a lei, love."

But I guess
the author is trying to convey just how "in love" she and her
fiancé were. After all, in reflecting on what happened, the most
that Tami can really come up in their defense of leaving during Hurricane
season is that they were in love. Anyone of us who have been there can
understand what she means. Somehow you do not believe anything bad can
happen when those hormones are rushing around.

The book
includes a few pictures scattered throughout, but more would have been
welcome. Definitely missing is a map showing Hazana's course before
and after the hurricane, even though the track might have been rather
straightforward; it is always helpful when picturing a part of the world
one isn't familiar with. But then again, this book is more inspirational
than technical, thus this could explain the omission. The book does contain
a glossary for those unfamiliar with nautical terms, although the way
the book is written the author(s) make the experience accessible even
for a novice.

Red Sky
in Mourning impresses me most because this woman made it back unaided.
To me this speaks highly of her skills as a sailor and to the spirit that
led her to the point of this experience in the first place. Richard may
be her hero for essentially saving her, but she is my hero for not only
saving herself, but also having the courage to live her dreams. Despite
the tragic loss of her fiancé at sea, she does not feel that either
one of them would have chosen to live their life differently or would
she change the way they handled the hurricane. Essentially this is not
a book about regrets or bad decisions. It is about learning to accept
that every individual has their own destiny and life, or God, works in
mysterious ways. I am glad that Tami Oldham Ashcraft decided to share
her story.

Bibliography: (with links to Amazon.com)

Book Marks:

About the Author:

Tami
Oldham Ashcraft continues to be an avid sailor and is a 100-ton licensed
captain with over 50,000 offshore miles. She lives in Friday Harbor, Washington
with her husband Ed and their two young daughters.

Susea McGearhart is a freelance writer and photographer who has
been sailing for over 20 years.